Geoege c



(No Model.)

' G. O. BUOH.

BOOT OR SHOE.

Patented Jan. 8, 1884;

v UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. BUCH, OF EUREKA, MISSOURI.

Boo-roe SHOEQ.

sPEcrFmATIoN forming part tr Letters Patent No. eeinoqaated January 8, 1884,

Application filed August 28, 1883. (So model.)

.or shoe, inverted, in which the present improvements are shown; Fig. 2, a view in perspective of the heel, a portion being broken away; Fig. 3, a View in perspective of the shank-piece; Fig. 4, a view in perspective similar to that of Fig. 1, the heel and a portion of the sole being removed to exhibit the springs; and Fig. 5, a cross-section taken through the sole in the plane indicated by dotted lines m x on Fig. 4. q

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

The design of this improvement is to provide an elastic support.

A represents a boot or shoe, in which the present improvement is embodied. Except as modified by the improvement, theboot or shoe is of any ofthe ordinary types. In place, however, of a solid heel and sole, a system of springs is introduced into the heel, and also into the sole beneath where the ball of the foot presses, and the heel and sole beneath the springs yield as the springs are compressed in :spring;

use.

B represents the heel-spring, and O the sole- Each of these springs, in practice, is preferably sectional, as shown. The heelspring B is made in sections 12 b -b, and the sole-spring is composed of the sections a c 0,. any desired number of the sections in the heel and also in the sole being employed. The sections b b of the heel-spring are preferablyar ranged longitudinally in thcboot or shoe, and

they are made fast to the shoe, and preferably at one (the forward) end, b, only. The springs b b are suitably shaped to provide an elastic bearing between the sole a andthe heel D, being preferably elliptical as far as general outline is concerned. The heel D is provided i with aflange, d,whichiis adapted tofit within a flange, a,which extends downward from the counter a. The heel-fla-nge d is provided with a in the counter-flange.

nect the heel with the main portion of the 5 the projections d, which, when the heel is in place, engage in vertical elongated openings This serves to conshoe, but in such a manner as to allow of the heel being moved as the springs yield and ex pand in use. To give a finish to'this part of the construction, the shank-piece E is attached to the shoe in front of the heel, and thecounter-flange is provided with covering-strips a. To leave the heel free to move, the shank-piece simply laps upon the forward end of the heel, but is not fastened thereto, and the strips a? at their lower ends are also preferably left free,

jections d in the slots to". The heel-flange d is preferably of metal, and the heel is fastened thereto; but, if desired, the heel and heel flange may be in one piece. The sections a c of the spring 0 arearranged crosswise in the 5 so as not to cramp the movement of the proi sole of the shoe; but they are preferably united in the direction of the length of the shoe and by means of a flexible strip or strips, 0, which strips extend longitudinally in it, serving both to connect the sections 0 c, as by means of the rivets c, and also to connect the entire system, C, of springs to the sole of the shoe, to which end the strips 0' at one end thereof-say the inner end-are fastened to the upper sole, a, of the shoe-that is, the system, C, of springs is virtually inclosed in a space, which is provided between the upper sole, a and the outer sole, a.

When the springs c c are compressed in use, the two soles a a are moved nearer together. The effect is to provide an elastic strip for the wearer, which, when the boot or shoe is finished, is entirely inclosed from view, so that the boot or shoe, in its external appearance, closely resembles the ordinary article.

I claim 1. The combination of the heel-piece D, the

flange d, having projections d, the flange 0., attached to the heel, and having elongated openings, which receive said projections, and a heel-spring, substantially as described. 2. A boot or shoe having longitudinallyarranged springs for the heel and shank, in combination with a yielding heel-piece, D, substantially as described.

3. A boot or shoe, having a transverselysprings b b, curved as described, with a hollow yielding heel and a covering shank-piece, E, substantially as described.

7. In a boot or shoe, the combination of the yielding heel D, the longitudinal heel and shank-spring B, the covering E for the forward portion of spring 13, and the transverse 2o sole-springs 0, all as described.

Witness my hand this Zlst August, 1883.

G. U. BUOH.

Witnesses:

O. D. MOODY, F. F. MATHIs. 

